MUMBAI: This week, Bollywood has been plagued with deaths. First, it was Shammi Kapoor; then it was the death of yesteryear art director Shanti Das. Now come the news that the country’s topmost art director Samir Chanda has passed away. He was 54.

In his 32-year career, Chanda had annexed the National Film Award for best Art Direction thrice. Among the notable films that Chanda was associated with were Kharij, Aks, Raavan, Bose The Forgotten Hero, Guru, Rang De Basanti, Kaalpurush, Krishna, Omkara, Saat Khoon Maaf and Yatra among others.

Chanda had also worked in Bengali films like Kaalbela, Kalpurush and Moner Manush besides directing Mithun Chakraborty in Ek Nadir Galpo (Tale of a River).

Starting with TV serials, Chanda gained popularity in filmdom with him being close to filmmakers like Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, Vishal Bharadwaj and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

A trained painter from Calcutta Art College, Chanda‘s vast training and understanding of Indian art and architecture ranged from the recreation of sets from the 10th Century to the modern contemporary world.